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About Us
At First Phrases, we’re transforming how language is supported for early learners and autistic children. Rooted in love, lived experiences, and leading research, our platform offers multilingual communication support that changes everything, from how children connect with language to how they connect with the world.
We exist to close the gap.
Created by speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, and mom Farwa Husain, First Phrases was born from the realization that too many children and the people who support them were navigating language development without the tools they truly needed. She saw parents' frustration, the burnout of professionals, and most of all, the potential in children waiting to connect and be heard.
So, we built something different.
We started with physical boxed sets in English, designed to model real, functional phrases using real children's voices. It was a powerful start but the need quickly became clear. Families and professionals were asking for faster access, culturally responsive content, and tools in their own languages.
That’s when First Phrases evolved into a digital platform, a revolutionary, research-driven suite of tools created to meet the needs of both parents and professionals in real time, across settings, and in multiple languages.
With real children's voices, visual support, and meaningful phrase modeling, First Phrases gives families and professionals an easy-to-use, no-prep solution that feels like play but is grounded in science. We focus on 12 essential communication functions, like sensory empowerment, self-advocacy, and shared joy, because language is more than asking. It's connection. It's power. It is belonging.
Our mission is simple but bold:
Empower educators, clinicians, and families with inclusive tools that honor how neurodivergent children think, learn, and express themselves so every child can thrive.
We’re not just offering a product. We’re building a movement.
A movement toward neurodiversity-affirming care. Toward communication that is authentic, joyful, and meaningful. Toward a world where every child's voice is celebrated and supported.
Whether you're a parent, therapist, or teacher, First Phrases is here to walk beside you as you support the children in your life. Together, we're creating a new standard for what's possible.
Meet the Founder: Farwa Husain, M.S., CCC-SLP
Farwa Husain is a bilingual speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, and proud mom who has dedicated her career to helping autistic children find their voice and be truly understood.
With over 15 years of experience, a master’s degree from Columbia University, and a deep passion for neurodiversity-affirming care, Farwa created First Phrases from a simple but powerful need: fundamental tools that support how autistic and neurodivergent children learn and communicate.
She was one of the first private practice owners in the Eastern United States to fully embrace echolalia and neurodiversity-affirming care, leading to national recognition for her client’s accelerated growth and progress. On a global level, Farwa has been at the forefront of educating clinicians on evidence-based ways to support autistic communication with respect, joy, and authenticity. Today, she continues to speak and teach nationally and internationally, guiding parents and professionals on strength-based, play-based strategies that help children thrive and make the most of every therapeutic moment.
Alongside First Phrases, Farwa also runs One-on-One Speech Therapy, a boutique private practice in New Jersey, and co-created Connect and Play, a nationally recognized summer immersive program.
Her dedication and work has been recognized by leading organizations and, most meaningfully, by the families she serves. Farwa was named an Innovator in the Field by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and received the prestigious 2024 Clinician of the Year Award from the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH). Parents have also celebrated her compassionate care, voting her one of New Jersey’s Kids’ Favorite Docs in New Jersey Family Magazine.
Farwa presents nationally and internationally on echolalia, interdisciplinary care, and neurodiversity-affirming practices. She also serves as the current President of the Morris County Speech and Hearing Association and leads training and workshops for schools, professional organizations, and parents.
Farwa speaks English, Urdu, and Hindi and celebrates the beauty of every language, culture, and communication. Whether Farwa's mentoring SLPs around the world or hosting free webinars for parents, her mission is the same:
To create spaces that honor and celebrate our children and support those who love them most.
At the heart of it all, Farwa is a mom raising three boys, and she brings that same care, heart, and hope to everything she creates.
Speech-Language Pathologist | Mom of 3 | Advocate for Neurodivergent Kids